Acer returns with a new ChromeOS laptop that boasts a 15.6in display, lots of ports and powerful internals. We review the Acer Chromebook 515
Larger Chromebooks seem to be making a bit of a comeback recently. While most of the ChromeOS devices you can buy tend to favour small formats, usually built around a 13in display, with many people now using them as a workhorse in the home, a bigger panel can be a real benefit.
Acer has recognised this new trend and its response is the Chromebook 515, complete with a 15.6in display. But, does bigger always mean better?
Design & Build
Plastic and metal construction
358 x 241 x 24.9mm dimensions
1.7kg weight
Those used to the lightweight, compact nature of Chromebooks might be a little taken aback when they first encounter the 515.
It’s a large device in this category, with its sizable dimensions making it something of a surfboard when compared to the likes of the HP Chromebook x360 14c, but around the same as the other recent big ChromeOS machine, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5.
The materials used in the construction do keep the weight to manageable level, with 1.7kg feeling just about comfortable to lug around. Plastic is deployed for the base section, while the majority of the lid is made from metal with a matte finish that looks smart and reminiscent of many other Chromebooks I’ve reviewed lately.
You won’t find any of the fancy 2-in-1 style hinges on the 515, as it thinks of itself as a laptop rather than hybrid, presumably due to the lack of a touchscreen. You can push the display down flat on a table though, if that’s the sort of thing you like to do although I’m not sure who does and what for.
For the most part, it’s a stable setup, but jiggling the device a little bit did see the display tilt back, so the hinges aren’t quite as tight as they could be. That being said, I didn’t experience any problems with the angle changing by itself during my time with the device.
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